We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of task-oriented approach in patients with sub-acute stroke and a preliminary study of an assessor-blind randomized controlled trial with a total of 3 patients with sub-acute stroke (experimental group: E1; control group: C1 and C2). The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group or the control group. All participants received 4 weeks of exercise training, which were 4 sessions per week and 60 minutes for each session. The experimental group received task-oriented circuit training to improve lower extremity motor functions. The control group received stretch exercises and upper extremity activities in sitting posture. Both groups received clinical asessments on lower extremity motor functions (primary outcomes), the structural integrity of the CST using diffusion spectrum imaging, and the cortical activation patterns of the SMC using functional magnetic resonance imaging(secondary outcomes) at baseline, post-training (week 4), and 1 month follow-up (week 8). Because of the small number of subjects, we also included one subject (E2) who received the same training programs as experimental group in our pilot study as one subject of the training group result. Training effects were descriptively analyzed for individual subjects.